Sensor emulation using mote networks

ABSTRACT

A method may include and/or involve collecting readings from a number of mote sensors of a mote network, the mote sensors at a number of mote sensor locations, and emulating, as a source or sources of the readings, a number of sensors at a number of sensor locations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Related Applications”) (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applicationsor claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patentapplications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Related Application(s)). All subject matter ofthe Related Applications and of any and all parent, grandparent,great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related Applications isincorporated herein by reference to the extent such subject matter isnot inconsistent herewith.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/203,571, entitled SENSOR EMULATION USING MOTE NETWORKS namingAlexander J. Cohen, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Robert W. Lord, Mark A.Malamud, Royce A. Levien, and Edward K. Y. Jung as inventors, filed Aug.12, 2005, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which acurrently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of thefiling date.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation or continuation-in-part. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit ofPrior-Filed Application, USPTO Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003. Thepresent Applicant Entity (hereinafter “Applicant”) has provided above aspecific reference to the application(s) from which priority is beingclaimed as recited by statute. Applicant understands that the statute isunambiguous in its specific reference language and does not requireeither a serial number or any characterization, such as “continuation”or “continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S. patentapplications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicant understands thatthe USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, andhence Applicant may be designating the present application as acontinuation of its parent application(s) as set forth above, butexpressly points out that such designations are not to be construed inany way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether or notthe present application contains any new matter in addition to thematter of its parent application(s).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to mote networks, and more particularlyto emulation of non-mote sensors using mote networks.

BACKGROUND

Mote sensors may be distributed throughout an area and/or volume ofinterest. The mote sensors may interact to form a mote network. Motenetworks may be advantageously employed in environments and/orapplications involving non-mote sensors.

SUMMARY

The following summary is intended to highlight and introduce someaspects of the disclosed embodiments, but not to limit the scope of theclaims. Thereafter, a detailed description of illustrated embodiments ispresented, which will permit one skilled in the relevant art to make anduse various embodiments.

A method may include and/or involve collecting one or more readings froma number of mote sensors of a mote network, the number of mote sensorsat a number of mote sensor locations, and emulating, as a source orsources of the one or more readings, a number of sensors at a number ofsensor locations. Emulating, as a source or sources of the one or morereadings, a number of sensors at a number of sensor locations mayinclude and/or involve emulating, as a source or sources of thereadings, a number of sensors at a number of sensor locations differentthan the number of mote sensors, and/or collecting the one or morereadings from a number of mote sensors less than the number of the oneor more sensors, and/or collecting the one or more readings from atleast one mote sensor location different than any of the number ofsensor locations, and/or emulating one sensor, and/or improving upon anaccuracy of the one or more readings over an accuracy of one or morereadings from the number of sensors, and/or collecting the one or morereadings from a number of mote sensors greater than the number ofsensors. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings and text forming a part of the presentapplication.

The method may include and/or involve adapting one or more of the numberof mote sensors, the number of mote sensor locations, or the one or moremote sensor locations to account for one or more failed mote sensorsand/or involve adapting one or more of the number of mote sensors, thenumber of mote sensor locations, or the one or more mote sensorlocations to account for one or more failed mote sensors may includeand/or involve the mote network adapting one or more of the number ofmote sensors, the number of mote sensor locations, or the mote sensorlocations to account for one or more failed mote sensors. In addition tothe foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,drawings and text forming a part of the present application.

The method may include and/or involve changing at least one of the motesensor locations to improve the accuracy of the emulating of the numberof sensors. Changing at least one of the mote sensor locations toimprove the accuracy of the emulating of the number of the sensors mayinclude and/or involve the mote network selecting at least one of themote sensor locations to improve the accuracy of the emulating of thenumber of the sensors. In addition to the foregoing, other methodaspects are described in the claims, drawings and text forming a part ofthe present application.

The method may include and/or involve adapting the emulating to accountfor one or more changes to one or more of the mote sensor locations,accuracy of the emulating of the number of sensors, performance of theemulating of the number of sensors, or to one or more changes in theenvironment of the mote network. In addition to the foregoing, othermethod aspects are described in the claims, drawings and text forming apart of the present application.

The method may include and/or involve observing at least one of abehavior or a characteristic of the number of sensors, and refining aselection of at least one of the mote sensors, the number of motesensors, the mote sensor locations, or the number of mote sensorlocations in order to improve emulation of at least one of the behavioror the characteristic of the number of sensors. Observing at least oneof a behavior or a characteristic of the number of sensors and refininga selection of at least one of the mote sensors, the number of motesensors, the mote sensor locations, or the number of mote sensorlocations in order to improve emulation of at least one of the behavioror the characteristic of the number of sensors may include and/orinvolve the mote network observing at least one of a behavior or acharacteristic of the number of sensors and refining a selection of atleast one of the mote sensors, the number of mote sensors, the one ormore mote sensor locations, or the number of mote sensor locations inorder to improve emulation of at least one of the behavior or thecharacteristic of the number of sensors. In addition to the foregoing,other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings and textforming a part of the present application.rtert a part of the presentapplication.

The method may include and/or involve selecting one or more replacementmote sensors to replace one or more failed mote sensors as a source ofthe one or more collected readings. Selecting one or more replacementmote sensors to replace one or more failed mote sensors as a source ofthe one or more collected readings may include and/or involve the motenetwork selecting one or more replacement mote sensors to replace one ormore failed mote sensors as a source of the one or more collectedreadings. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings and text forming a part of the presentapplication.

The method may include and/or involve the mote network selecting atleast one of the mote sensor locations to improve an accuracy of the oneor more derived readings. In addition to the foregoing, other methodaspects are described in the claims, drawings and text forming a part ofthe present application.

The method may include and/or involve adapting the emulating to accountfor one or more changes to the one or more mote sensor locations. Inaddition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in theclaims, drawings and text forming a part of the presentapplication.rwerwer the present application.

An apparatus may include and/or involve logic to receive one or morereadings from two or more mote sensors, logic to convert the one or morereadings into at least one non-mote sensor reading, and logic tocommunicate the at least one non-mote sensor reading via a non-motesensor interface. The logic to communicate the at least one non-motesensor reading via a non-mote sensor interface may include and/orinvolve logic to emulate a manner of communication of the at least onenon-mote sensor. In addition to the foregoing, other apparatus aspectsare described in the claims, drawings and text forming a part of thepresent application.

The apparatus may include and/or involve logic to apply locationinformation for the two or more mote sensors to derive at least oneemulated non-mote sensor location. In addition to the foregoing, otherapparatus aspects are described in the claims, drawings and text forminga part of the present application.

The apparatus may include and/or involve logic to select at least onemote sensor to provide the one or more readings. The logic to select atleast one mote sensor to provide the one or more readings may includeand/or involve logic to select one or more mote sensors to compensatefor at least one failed mote sensor, and/or logic to select at least onemote sensor to increase an accuracy of emulation of the at least onenon-mote sensor. In addition to the foregoing, other apparatus aspectsare described in the claims, drawings and text forming a part of thepresent application.

The apparatus may include and/or involve logic to emulate at least onesource of non-mote sensor readings. In addition to the foregoing, otherapparatus aspects are described in the claims, drawings and text forminga part of the present application.

The apparatus may include and/or involve logic to cause a change in atleast one location from which the one or more readings are provided. Thelogic to cause a change in at least one location from which the one ormore readings are provided may include and/or involve logic to deselectat least one mote as a source of the one or more readings and to selectat least one other mote as the source of the one or more readings,and/or logic to cause at least one mote that is a source of the one ormore readings to change position. In addition to the foregoing, otherapparatus aspects are described in the claims, drawings and text forminga part of the present application.

Other system/method/apparatus aspects are described in the text (e.g.,detailed description and claims) and drawings forming the presentapplication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, the same reference numbers and acronyms identifyelements or acts with the same or similar functionality for ease ofunderstanding and convenience. To easily identify the discussion of anyparticular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in areference number refer to the figure number in which that element isfirst introduced.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system providing motenetwork emulation of one or more legacy sensor devices.

FIG. 2 is an action flow diagram of an embodiment of a process of motenetwork sensor emulation.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of mote network sensoremulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” do not necessarilyrefer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or pluralnumber also include the plural or singular number respectively.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, refer to this application as awhole and not to any particular portions of this application. When theclaims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items,that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: anyof the items in the list, all of the items in the list and anycombination of the items in the list.

“Logic” refers to signals and/or information that may be applied toinfluence the operation of a device. Software, hardware, and firmwareare examples of logic. Hardware logic may be embodied in circuits. Ingeneral, logic may comprise combinations of software, hardware, and/orfirmware.

System Providing Mote Network Emulation of One or More Legacy SensorDevices

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system providing motenetwork emulation of one or more legacy sensor devices.

A mote network within a volume/area 117 includes multiple motesensor/processors. For purposes of illustration, three motes 102, 103,and 104 are shown, although in practice the network could have more orfewer (typically more) motes. Mote 103 is shown in more detail, having acommunication interface 106, an environmental sensor 107, and otherlogic 109 to carry out/participate in various acts as described herein.

The system further includes at least one external device 111 having itsown logic 113 to carry out/participate in acts described herein, and atleast one legacy device 119 adapted to interact with non-mote (a.k.a.legacy) sensors. The device 111 may include an interface 121 to interactwith the device 119 by emulating one or more non-mote sensors.

Readings may be collected from a number of mote sensors (e.g., one, two,three, etc., mote sensors) of a mote network (henceforth, “datacollection”), the mote sensors located at a number of mote sensorlocations. A number of “legacy” (a.k.a. non-mote) sensors may beemulated as a source or sources of the readings (henceforth, “sensoremulation”). In systems where the location of the legacy sensors is afactor, legacy sensors may be emulated to be at particular locations.

Sensor emulation may include and/or involve emulating, as a source orsources of the readings, a number of sensors at a number of sensorlocations different than the number of mote sensors. For example, alarge room may be created by merging two rooms (e.g. removing a wall),each room having a thermocouple connecting to the heating system. Thethermocouples may be removed as part of the renovation, with the wiresto the thermocouples remaining. To replace the removed thermocouples, alarge number of motes (say, 80 motes, including motes 102-104) havingtemperature sensors may be placed in locations throughout the room. Theinterface device 111 may be attached to the thermocouple wires to theheating system. Furthermore, sensor emulation may include emulation ofanother mote network; for example, a new mote sensor network mightemulate an old (e.g., failing) one.

Emulation information may be provided to the device 111 in order toenable the device 111 to emulate the removed thermocouples usingreadings from one or more motes of the mote network. One or more of themotes may communicate temperature readings to the device 111, which mayapply logic 113 to emulate the thermocouple readings using the motereadings. The device 111 may convert the mote readings to analog signalscompatible with the legacy thermocouple wires and may communicate thesesignals using the wires to the heating system.

Thus, data collection may involve collecting readings from a number ofmote sensors more or less than the number of sensors being emulated.There may be various manners of implementing data collection, includingbut not limited to collecting readings from at least one mote sensor ata location different than any of the sensor locations. A single sensormay be emulated, possibly at a single location such as location 131, ormore than one sensor of the same or different types may be emulated.(See the previous example for a collection of a large number of motesthat emulate in this case, two thermocouples).

Sensor emulation may involve improving upon an accuracy of readings thatwould be provided by the sensors. Greater accuracy may be accomplishedby collecting readings from a number of mote sensors greater than thenumber of sensors. Thus, in the previous example, emulation of twothermocouples by a large number of mote sensors may, in some situations,increase the accuracy of the temperature readings, through statisticalaveraging and other techniques, by an order of magnitude or more overwhat the sensors themselves could provide.

As a second manner of accomplishing greater accuracy, the mote sensorsmay use a different physical technique to obtain their readings thanthat of the emulated sensors. In the previous example, the thermocouplesensors which were replaced typically may not have measurement accuracyappreciably greater than 1 degree centigrade. The mote sensors may bethermistors, which use resistors to develop temperature readings, andmay be an order of magnitude or more accurate than thermocouples.

Readings may be collected from two or more mote sensors of a motenetwork in different locations. One or more readings may be derived fromthese collected readings, where the derived readings emulate readingsfrom at least one non-mote sensor in at least one non-mote sensorlocation.

Besides replacing previously used sensors with a network of motesensors, mote sensors emulating some other type of sensor can obviouslybe used in new installations which would ordinarily use the othersensor.

Network Adaptation

Various aspects of the data collection and/or emulation may be adaptedto improve accuracy and/or account for environmental factors such asmote failures (henceforth, “network adaptation”). For example, thenumber of mote sensors, the number of mote sensor locations, and/or themote sensor locations may be adapted to account for one or more motesensors that were providing readings but which have failed. Networkadaptation may be caused by external logic (e.g. logic 113) or by themote network itself (a.k.a. the mote network is “self-adapting”).

Network adaptation may include and/or involve changing at least one ofthe mote sensor locations to improve the accuracy of the emulation ofthe sensors (henceforth, “location adaptation”). Location adaptation maybe caused by external logic (e.g. logic 113) or by the mote networkitself (a.k.a. the mote network is “self-adapting”).

Network adaptation may be performed to account for changes to one ormore of the mote sensor locations, accuracy of the emulating of thenumber of sensors, performance of the emulating of the number ofsensors, or to changes in the environment of the mote network. As anexample where a changed mote position may result in network adaptation,a mote which is providing readings used in sensor emulation may bedislodged from its position, say the underside of a table, and fall tothe floor. Its readings may then be lower, as the cold generated by airconditioning in the location is most intense on the floor. The systemmay recognize directly that the location of the mote has changed, usinglocation logic, or it may recognize that the readings being given by themote are uncharacteristic of its prior position. The system may thenadapt by selecting one or more motes to replace the mote in providingreadings used in the emulation.

As an example of when reading accuracy may trigger adaptation, thesystem may examine the accuracy of readings, either automatically ortriggered by the intervention of some person or device(s). For example,a person may bring a highly accurate thermometer into the room and takereadings at the two emulated locations. If the accuracy of the motereadings is not comparable, the system may adapt which and/or how manymotes to use to provide readings.

As another example of adaptation, motes may be added to the system, orone or more motes in the system may have their locations moved. Thesystem may then adapt the selection of motes to use for emulation,resulting in increased emulation accuracy going forward.

As another example of adaptation, a part of the mote environment becomescontaminated. For example, workers might respond to a small fire byspraying part of a wall or other surface with fire retardant, which maythen coat the motes attached thereon. The system may recognize thesemotes are no longer giving characteristic readings and may then selectone or more replacement motes.

Network adaptation may involve observing behavior and/or characteristicsof the sensors to emulate, and refining a selection of the mote sensors,the number of mote sensors, the mote sensor locations, and/or the numberof mote sensor locations in order to improve emulation of behaviorand/or characteristics of the sensors. For example, motes 102-104 mayprovide pressure readings in a pipe 117 carrying a moving fluid. Aconventional non-mote pressure sensor may also be present in the pipe.The system may observe behavior and/or characteristics of the pressuresensor to emulate, and refine a selection of the mote sensors, thenumber of mote sensors, the mote sensor locations, and/or the number ofmote sensor locations in order to improve emulation of behavior and/orcharacteristics of the non-mote pressure sensor.

Network adaptation may involve selecting one or more replacement motesensors (a.k.a. “mote replacement”) to replace one or more failed motesensors as a source of the collected readings. Mote replacement may insome cases involve the mote network selecting one or more replacementmote sensors to replace one or more failed mote sensors as a source ofthe collected readings. In other cases, external logic such as logic 113may select mote replacements.

Emulation Interface

An interface device such as device 111 may be provided to receive and/orcollect readings from the mote sensors, and to convert the readings intoat least one non-mote sensor reading. The device 111 may include logicto communicate the at least one non-mote sensor reading via a non-motesensor interface. Thus, the device 111 may serve to emulate at least onenon-mote (e.g. legacy) sensor via a mote network (henceforth, “sensorinterface emulation”). Sensor interface emulation may include and/orinvolve logic to emulate a manner of communication of the at least onenon-mote sensor. In other words, the device 111 may appear as thenon-mote sensor(s) to controllers or other devices adapted to interactwith the non-mote sensor(s).

Some applications may not employ an external device 111. Instead, themote network itself may provide the functions of the external device111.

In some applications the location(s) of the emulated non-mote sensor(s)may be relevant to controllers or other devices that interact with thenon-mote sensors. The device 111 may include and/or involve logic toapply location information for the mote sensors that provide thereadings in order to derive at least one emulated non-mote sensorlocation. For example, in the example of motes emulating thermocouples,the device 111 may determine two locations with which to associate theemulated thermocouple readings, based upon the locations of the moteschosen to provide readings for the emulation. In some situations themote network itself may provide these features.

The device 111 may include and/or involve logic to select at least onemote sensor to provide the readings (henceforth, “mote sensorselection”). Mote sensor selection may involve logic to select one ormore mote sensors to compensate for at least one failed mote sensor, andor logic to select at least one mote sensor to increase an accuracy ofemulation of the at least one non-mote sensor. In some implementations,the mote network itself may provide these features.

The device 111 may include and/or involve logic to cause a change in atleast one location from which the readings are provided. The logic tocause a change in at least one location from which the readings areprovided (henceforth, ‘mote location selection’) may include and/orinvolve logic to deselect at least one mote as a source of the readingsand to select at least one other mote as the source of the readings.This may include and/or involve logic to cause at least one mote that isa source of the readings to change position.

Process of Mote Network Sensor Emulation

FIG. 2 is an action flow diagram of an embodiment of a process of motenetwork sensor emulation. The motes in the network communicate withtheir nearest neighbors. The mote closest to the interface device passesall such communication it receives to the mote interface.

At 202 mote 1 communicates its sensor reading to mote 2. At 204 mote 2communicates its sensor reading to mote 3. At 206 mote 2 communicatesmote 1's sensor data to mote 3. At 208, 210, and 212 mote 3 communicatesthe data for itself, mote 1, and mote 2 respectively to the moteinterface.

The mote interface then calculates the derived data value for the sensoror sensors which are being emulated. At 214, this derived data iscommunicated to the controller.

The mote interface has recognized that the emulation(s) may better beperformed by making some change affecting mote 2, and at 216, the moteinterface sends the information to perform the mote 2 adaptation to mote3. At 218, mote 3 communicates this information about the mote 2adaptation to mote 2.

Mote Network Sensor Emulation

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of mote network sensoremulation. At 302, readings from the motes participating in the sensoremulation are obtained. At 306, the emulation is performed. At 308, theresults of the emulation are examined. At 310, if the results aresatisfactory, at 314 the emulation is complete.

If unsatisfactory, at 312 the calculations and/or motes used may beadjusted. Additional mote readings may be obtained at 302, and theprocess repeats.

Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems described herein can beeffected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that thepreferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a hardware and/orfirmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer may opt for a solely software implementation; or, yet againalternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles bywhich the processes described herein may be effected, none of which isinherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is achoice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployedand the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability)of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that optical aspects of implementations may involveoptically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood as notorious by those within the art that each functionand/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples canbe implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof.Several portions of the subject matter subject matter described hereinmay be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors(DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the artwill recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and/or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digitaland analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links(e.g., packet links).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, orany combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various typesof “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electricalcircuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry havingat least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of randomaccess memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communicationsdevice (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electricalequipment).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein,and thereafter use standard engineering practices to integrate suchdescribed devices and/or processes into larger systems. That is, atleast a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein can beintegrated into a network processing system via a reasonable amount ofexperimentation.

The foregoing described aspects depict different components containedwithin, or connected with, different other components. It is to beunderstood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, andthat in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achievethe same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement ofcomponents to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated”such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any twocomponents herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can beseen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionalityis achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being“operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achievethe desired functionality.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: collecting one or morereadings from a number of mote sensors of a mote network, the number ofmote sensors at a number of mote sensor locations; emulating, as asource or sources of the one or more readings, a number of sensors,including using the collected one or more readings to determine one ormore derived values having an accuracy that is greater than at leastsome of the collected one or more readings from the number of motesensors; and refining a selection of at least one of the mote sensors ofthe mote network based at least partially on the emulating, wherein therefining a selection of at least one of the mote sensors of the motenetwork includes at least using one or more portions of the mote networkto: a) observe at least one of a behavior or a characteristic of atleast one of the number of sensors in order to improve emulation of atleast one of a behavior or a characteristic of a number of the motesensors, and b) at least refine a selection of at least one of the motesensors, a number of mote sensors, one or more mote sensor locations, ora number of mote sensor locations in order to improve emulation of atleast one of a behavior or a characteristic of a number of the motesensors.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein emulating, as a source orsources of the one or more readings, a number of sensors furthercomprises: emulating, as a source or sources of the one or morereadings, a number of sensors at a number of sensor locations differentthan the number of mote sensors.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereincollecting the one or more readings from a number of mote sensors of amote network further comprises: collecting the one or more readings froma number of mote sensors less than the number of the one or moresensors.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting one or morereadings from a number of mote sensors of a mote network furthercomprises: collecting the one or more readings from at least one motesensor location different than any of the sensor locations.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein emulating, as a source or sources of the oneor more readings, a number of sensors further comprises: emulating onesensor.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: observing at leastone of a behavior or a characteristic of at least some of the number ofmote sensors.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the one ormore readings from a number of mote sensors of a mote network furthercomprises: collecting the one or more readings from a number of motesensors greater than the number of sensors.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: adapting one or more of the number of mote sensors,the number of mote sensor locations, or the locations of the motesensors to account for one or more failed mote sensors.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein adapting one or more of the number of mote sensors, thenumber of mote sensor locations, or the one or more mote sensorlocations to account for one or more failed mote sensors furthercomprises: the mote network adapting one or more of the number of motesensors, the number of mote sensor locations, or the mote sensorlocations to account for one or more failed mote sensors.
 10. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: changing at least one of the mote sensorlocations to improve the accuracy of the emulating of the sensors. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein changing at least one of the mote sensorlocations to improve the accuracy of the emulating of the number ofsensors further comprises: the mote network selecting at least one ofthe mote sensor locations to improve the accuracy of the emulating ofthe sensors.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: adapting theemulating to account for one or more changes to (a) one or more of themote sensor locations, (b) accuracy of the emulating of the number ofsensors, (c) performance of the emulating of the number of sensors, or(d) the environment of the mote network.
 13. The method of claim 1,wherein the number of sensors includes at least one of a temperaturesensor or a pressure sensor.
 14. A method comprising: collecting one ormore readings from two or more mote sensors of a mote network, the twoor more mote sensors in two or more mote sensor locations; deriving oneor more derived readings from the collected one or more readings, theone or more derived readings emulating one or more readings from atleast one non-mote sensor in at least one non-mote sensor location,including using the collected one or more readings to derive one or morederived readings having an accuracy that is greater than at least someof the collected one or more readings from the non-mote sensor; refininga selection of at least one of the mote sensors of the mote networkbased at least partially on the deriving, wherein refining a selectionof at least one of the mote sensors of the mote network includes atleast using one or more portions of the mote network to observe at leastone of a behavior or a characteristic of at least one of the number ofsensors in order to improve emulation of at least one of a behavior or acharacteristic of at least one of the two or more mote sensors, and atleast refining a selection of at least one of the mote sensors, a numberof the mote sensors, at least one of the two or more mote sensorlocations, or a number of mote sensor locations in order to improveemulation of at least one of a behavior or a characteristic of at leastone of the two or more mote sensors.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: selecting one or more replacement mote sensors to replaceone or more failed mote sensors as a source of the one or more collectedreadings.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein selecting one or morereplacement mote sensors to replace one or more failed mote sensors as asource of the one or more collected readings further comprises: motenetwork selecting one or more replacement mote sensors to replace one ormore failed mote sensors as a source of the one or more collectedreadings.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: the motenetwork selecting at least one of the mote sensor locations to improvean accuracy of the one or more derived readings.
 18. The method of claim14, further comprising: adapting the emulating to account for one ormore changes to the one or more mote sensor locations.
 19. The method ofclaim 14, wherein refining a selection of at least one of the motesensors of the mote network based at least partially on the derivingcomprises: refining at least one of a selection of the two or more motesensors from which to collect the one or more readings to improveemulation of the at least one non-mote sensor.
 20. The method of claim14, wherein the non-mote sensor includes at least one of a legacysensor, a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor.
 21. An apparatus atleast partially implemented using hardware, comprising: logic to receiveone or more readings from two or more mote sensors; logic to convert theone or more readings into at least one non-mote sensor reading includingincreasing an accuracy of the at least one non-mote sensor readingduring the conversion; logic to communicate the at least one non-motesensor reading via an interface; and logic to refine a selection of atleast one of the mote sensors of the mote network based at leastpartially on the logic to convert the one or more readings, wherein thelogic to refine a selection of at least one of the mote sensors of themote network includes at least: logic to use one or more portions of themote network to observe at least one of a behavior or a characteristicof at least one of the number of sensors in order to improve conversionof at least one of a behavior or a characteristic of the mote sensor,and to refine a selection of at least one of a number of mote sensors,one or more mote sensor locations, or a number of mote sensor locationsin order to improve conversion of at least one of a behavior or acharacteristic of the mote sensor.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein the logic to communicate the at least one non-mote sensorreading via an interface further comprises: logic to emulate a manner ofcommunication of the at least one non-mote sensor.
 23. The apparatus ofclaim 21, further comprising: logic to apply location information forthe two or more mote sensors to derive at least one emulated non-motesensor location.
 24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:logic to select at least one mote sensor to provide the one or morereadings.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic to select atleast one mote sensor to provide the one or more readings furthercomprises: logic to select one or more mote sensors to compensate for atleast one failed mote sensor.
 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein thelogic to select at least one mote sensor to provide the one or morereadings further comprises: logic to select at least one mote sensor toincrease an accuracy of emulation of the at least one non-mote sensor.27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising: logic to emulate atleast one source of non-mote sensor readings.
 28. The apparatus of claim21, further comprising: logic to cause a change in at least one locationfrom which the one or more readings are provided.
 29. The apparatus ofclaim 28, wherein the logic to cause a change in at least one locationfrom which the one or more readings are provided further comprises:logic to deselect at least one mote as a source of the one or morereadings and to select at least one other mote as the source of the oneor more readings.
 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the logic tocause a change in at least one location from which the one or morereadings are provided further comprises: logic to cause at least onemote that is a source of the one or more readings to change position.